Sifter



H. S. WOODWARD April 3, 192s.

SIFTER Filed Au. 2, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 K7/lig. j,

April 3, 1928.

H. S. WOODWARD SIFTER Filed Ama, 1924 3 sheets-sheet 2 1; fig.

WITNKSS HTTOP/YEVS April 3, 1928. 1,664,841

H. s. wooDwARD SIFTER I v Filed Aug. 2, 1924 5 Sheets-'Sheet 3 pit/Ig. c?. 5 L9, 3

/NVENTO Br w/TNESS ab W @TMW/f5 Patented Apr. 3, '1928.

UNITED STATES SIFTER.

.Application led August 2, F1924. Serial No. 17299706.

My invention relates to Isitters, and more particularly to those devices designed pri mai-ily `for domestic or household use Vfor ecru-ming aehes to reclaim anhin-ned coal therefrom.

The objects of my invention are to provide a sifter, ythe .asingof which is .preferably of sheet metal and mounted so as `to be capable ol nniwersal movement so 'that the ashes may -be .thoroughly screened in `Very .Short time.

A 'furtherobject of my invention iis to provide an aah silter wherein the contents `there- Io'lj may Abe ven .a shaking movement in subatantially'any direction about a pivotal ipoint :in ell'ecting a .ecreening thereof.

A further.object of my linvention .is to pro- -vide a si 'er wherein 'the parts may fbe Iconstructed. of comparatively light sheetmetal but olf such vahapcs and bea-ring such irelal'ions to each other :that the various .pants stillen and strengthen feach other to pro-vide a relatively rigl thongl'i light-weight 4derice.

Further objects oil: my invention are :to Ymalte :a device oil the character `above described `in which ythe sieve is readily removable 'from `the onter casingand thescneen vfis also reino-Vahle l1-rom the sieve so thatscneens ol dillercnt mesh may be readily employed when coal ol chill-ferent sizes has been used :in lhe iilniiiace, or an old 0r `worn ont screen mary ybe replaced with a new one without ldisinf- -ranging the Frelation of fthe other parts 'of the devine.

:l lT'i-irther objectoli my invention is ito provide -a .sicll'er :in which the selnarable parte t yfirmly together and stillen the whole device.

.A farther object of my invention is to So construct `:rnd arnange a Sifter that the Epi-o- `rvision in the casing for seating the sieve lherein still'e'ns the casing; :the provision for seating the cover in the casing; etifens the missing; :and .the provision :in the sieve for aeating the screen stillens 'the sieve.

.fir 'fusi-ther object oli my invention is to provide a cover which, though light, is strongl and rigid and forme a support 'For a handle by whit-sli lthe whole 4device may be vibrateil or Shalrcn lto sel-)arate ithe line ash from the nnblnfned coal kand clin'lrers.

Furl-her objects .of my invention will `appear in `the Specification and claims below.

lleflieriring now to the drawings forming' a parl' of ithis specitication,

llig. 1 lie `a vertical .sectional View Aol one form or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. z2 is 2a 'side elevational 'View of .a modiiled form thereof.

Eig. 3 is Ia vertical ysectional wiew :of a 'lf-nr :ther anodilication Aof any invention.

Eig. Llis a :plan view ofthe support `shorwn .to the (door and the dust @is .prevented 'from mingling with 'fthe Aatmoephere by a 'curtain Vor tube of fabric dependingito:the :floor .from 1the `'lower ledge of the :sitter proper.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional "view of .another fforxn of any invention adapted to be mounted -on #che :top .of a barrel or ash can.

Fig. 9 -isaa verticalseetional 'View of a further modification of my invention.

l0 shows .zr-.different nannangement of yslr-)ringe from that sho-win in :any prenions Vfigure.; :rnd

Fig. 'l'l is a plan View fof Fig. 10., a part `the cover :being broken 4away iro show the lscreen mounted lin the sieve. n In .the embodiments ostimy invention showin in Rigs. 1,12, f3., "l, J5., '.9 and l0, the main `(Jasing l iis rclosed'on sarllfsideeexcept iat lthe top, andthe `top `ieadzqgeted to be closed when lthe device is 1in use by a cover :2, snugly :fitting and closing fthe itop so :as to vpreyent the escape lof` dust to :the atmosphere. Preferably fto the top yof the `cover r2 isriglidly secured la handle by means yof which `the casing may 'be manually shaken.

`.In said figures, the main casing iis :shown as cylindrical and of afelatiyely thin sheet metal, and above :the :bottom :wall a :olf ithe mai-n :casing the A`outer surface 4'of the fcylindrical Wall 5 is .provided Wiith a .groove 6,- spuzn or .pressed inwardly yin tlie sheet metal to form a Vridge 7 in the iinner y'Wall thereof spaced well above the bottom 'wall 4.

Near fthe itop fof the `cylindrical wall f5 Von the inner side thereof is Vomned la .groove 8 .by .a yspinning or `pressing operation, which forms a 4ridge 9 "on libe :outer surface theiieoif comparatively close @to itheftop edge ol' the cylindrical wall '5. Within'the main leasing 1 and seated `fuporn the Hridge 7 is la sieve 10.

the vertical Wall ill of which is preferally cylindricaland smoothly iits into or .within the .innersurface ofthe .main casing 1 and theV lower edge of the vertical wall 11 of the sieve ispreferably coiled or. bent around a wire 12 to form"a"seat"13 upon' which a screen 14, preferably of perforated sheet" metal iis-mounted.. y

This screen 141 is preferably; a diskV of sheet metal having suitably` sized perforations 15 therethrough and which is preferably sl ight `ly smaller than the inner diameter of the .sieve 'above the Acoiled or v`curved or wired lower edge thereof so that the margin of the diskwllrest upon the shoulder or seat 13 at the bottom of the sieve.

The lcover 2`of the sifter is preferably pro videdwith a cylindricallange 16, the lower edgev of.. which `is fpreferablycoiled around fa` wirefl? :to ystiften and strengthen the sanie,@

and this coiled margin or -edge18 is adapted to snugly lit against the upper surface ofthe i ridge 9 near the top of the main casing 1 to yform aV substantialv 'dust-proof joint when'the 4cover 2l isV seated. ontlie top or the casing 1. ,i1 :The center of the cover`2 is preferably convex or spherical toprovide strength and rigidity to the cover andv at the 4centeithe ' cover a handle@ 3. is. rigidly:secured, as by a i i `boltuor screw'19,betweenthe head of'which and they inside of the' cover is interposed a" washer20- `Between the washer 2O and the Y lower end ofthe handle 3 .the sheet metal of the cover is firmly clamped'. i

Theunit comprising the mainrcasingythe cover and Isieve thereinV may be appropriately termed-the screening device, which may-be 'supported in a vvariety-of ways for vibration.

Thus, in Figs.v 1, 2, 3 .and 9, a short cyliiidrical tube`21 havingl a radial flangeat `the upper end thereof may bebolted.oi-.otherwise rigidly. secured byits flange 22 to thecenter Y offthebottoin wall l'ofthe main casing 1.

i In Fig.V 1y the head 23 of a post oiwcoluinu i V`2lsfitsrwithin the short tube 21 andinay be ri'gidly secured thereto bybolts or screws 25.

The lower end-of the -post or `column .841 is preferably providedwith a ball or spherical l surface 26 adapted tobe seated-in a smaller sphericalV recess27V on the base 1 28. The .base 28 isfpreferably made inlthe form of .a cross,

. theradial arms'2-9` of whichare secuiedfto. a diskl30 of metal-orhard wood in the central -boss'BOf ofwhi'ch the spherical recess 2fis` formed, the arms being secured to the disk Bf() bylbolts ior'screws 31. :The disk BO'may be Vprovided with astein 1.8 fitting into asuitable opening Vin tlie 'base 28. OneV of the radialV arms 29 maybe longer than the others sothat in shaking thesifter the operator may stand upon it ity necessaryto hold-the base. firmly to thefloor: Howeveigthe weight of the-sifter,ipart icularly Vwhen filled withV ashes y to be screened, is usually suiiicient'to .hold the l l'basel firmly in Contact with` the floor and it willfnot be tilted infrshaking the sifter.-

V4screened; Y

. In theforni of niyr invention shown in Fig.

Lesesai y Suitably locatedv onthe column or post 24 the tension of thesprings which' are prefer ably four-.in number `and the tension of avliicli'V should be such Vas to Vnormally hold the column or post 24:, perpendicular even when the sieve 16 is filled with ashes to be 2, the main casing,icover,the handle andthe sieve with the screen therein and the short Vand rigidly secured thereto by a bolt or set tube 21providing a socketfor the column 2%,

having at itslowe'i.- end the -ball26 seated in :i `recess 27 ofthe base 28, areall like those `parts above described in connectionwith Fig.

1. 'lhespijings ofFig.V 1, are replaced byv reversely..curved springs 35a, the upper `ends of which are attached by bolts to the column 2l andthe lower ends Vof which are `connected by bolts 38 with tliebase 28.

`The Vconstruction shown in Fig. 3 eXact- A a short,` distance below `the bolts 37, the ball 26 and the recess 27 being omitted. This mounting permitsthe sifter to be moved in rly like that. shown in Fig. 2 except that the post 241" is ashortoiie and extends for only .7

all the directions.- that tlie'siftei's shown iiil Figs. 1and2 mayinovebut the resiliencyof thespiings permits slight vertical movement of tlieisifter in'addition thereto.-

ln the ii'ioditicatioii shownl Fig. vthe main casing 1, cover 2, handle 3 and sieve f1 with the 4screen r14ksupported therein Vare preferably like the constructions previously described.` vn'lhe base 28, however, is'shown as a. circular disk of wood or suitable inaterial having a disk secured by bolts or screws Bicto the bar-ie.4 The' column or post 211C has a flange 2.c `attached..by bolts or screws 2%.() to thebottoin wall el. of the main casing 1. `The end of the coluiiin 2 4 is provided with `a ball 26 seated ina spherical recess v2T of `the' disk 80". Y

" Also secured 'to 4the disk 30C by the ysaid bolts 39 are foin: radially extendingarnis 29C having upwardly turned Vends 'to each of which are attached, as by a nut 40, one end of acoil spring 35, tlieothcrendof said springspassing through the lower partof lllie casing 1 und having nut'sll threaded on the ends .thereof inside Vof the casing 1.' The stein 48 may be extended to forma pin to be eu'ibedd'ed in al -ceinent floor. y

ln. llfig.g.6'the outer orn'iaincasing 1d is irovided vwith a conical 'bottoni-ad terminating in a y'hollow post vorcolumn k2-11 to the lower Vend of whiehfis secured. by bolts BTla hollow. sheet metal spring 35d of the syl' the phon type, the lower end of this spring 3 5d being secured by bolts 38d Vto the top of a cover 42 of an ash pan 43. This accordion pleated sheet metal spring 35d permits the main casing ld supported thereby to be moved radially from the perpendicular in any direction or any gyratory movement or vertically at the will of the operator, the long hollow post or column 24d permits the use of a relatively shallow pan resting on the floor and the handle 3 will be or may be made to he at any desired level for convenient manipulation.

Fig. 7 shows a construction somewhat like that shown in Fig. 6' in that the ashes separated from the coal are allowed to pass out of the ash receiver at the bottom of the main casing and that the main casing is resiliently mounted upon a helical spring and is movable in any direction laterally or up and down. The casing le is provided with a downwardly tapering conical bottom 4e and this bottom 4e .is provided with 4anopening 44 which communicates or registers with the passage through a short tube 2le secured by bolts passing through a` flange 22.e of said tube. The upper portion of a coil springmle is attached by suitable clamps 45 to the tube 21e. The base 28e may consist of a disk 30e to which the lower coil of the spring 35e is attached by clamps 45. The under side of the disk 80@ is preferably provided. with a base 4G in which is a socket 47 into the upper end of which. a pin or stake 48e fits. The stake 48e may be seated in the recess 47 of the boss 46 and the disk 30'e may be hammered to drive the stake 48a down into the earth until the upper end of the disk 30e rests upon the ground. This will afford a rigid support for the sifter when it may be mounted on the earth.'` To prevent the ashes which fall through the opening 44 to the ground from filling the atmosphere with dust around the sifter7 a tubular curtain 49 may be attached to the lower part of the vertical Wall of the main casing l, le in any suitable manner, the lower end resting on the ground. In this arrangement, the sifter is capable of movement in any direction.

ln Fig. S is shown a. construction somewhat like that of Fig. 6 except that the sylphon 35 connects the lower part of the conical bottom 4d with a cover 42 of an ash barrel or can 4.3i. lVhen this device is mountcd on a' relatively highl barrel 4315 the long hollow column 241 of Fig. G may be replaced with a short tube 24t to which the upper end of the sylphon 35d is attached. The height of the barrel will bring the handle to the proper level to enable one to shake the sifter with facility.

Fig. 9 differs mainly from/the construction shown in Fig. 3 in the spring mounting for the sifter body. This spring 35g is a conical coiled spring and the upper end thereof` is attached by staples 50 to a wooden head 23g secured in the short tube 2l on the bottom 4 of the main casing and thelower coil of the spring is also secured by staples 50 to the top of the circular disk or block 30s' of the base 28h. i

In Figs.. l() and l1 are shown modied forms wherein four semi-elliptical springs 35T support the sifter proper.. In this con struction the bottom 4 of the main casing l is provided with a block 2l, having grooves 5l. disposed at right angles to each other and into. each of which fits one of the semi-ellip tical springs 35, The springs may be secured to the block 21h by a bolt- 52.l The base 28 muy be provided with a `block 30 which also is provided in the top thereof with a pair ofV grooves 53 at right angles to each other and one below the plane of the other into which may fit two` more semi.- elliptical springs 35i. Each pair of springs are secured to each other by pins 54 somewhat in the manner of a. hinge joint. ln this embodiment of my invention the .main casingl, the cover 2, the handle 3 and the sieve l0, fitted into the casing l, arey preferably constructed as shown in Fig. l.

Referring now to Figs. l, 2, 3, 4 and .5, to sift ashes, the lid or cover 2 is lifted and the ashes to be sifted are placed in the sieve l0. The cover is then replaced and the operator grasping the handle 3 shakes the sifter in any direction radially of the axis of the column 24 when it is inr its normal position, or may impart to the sifter a circular or gyratory movement all. against the tension of the springs, tending to restore the device to a perpendicular position. ln these e1nhodiments of my invention the main kcasing will be pivotally moved aroundv the universal joint at the bottom of the column provided by the ball 2G and the recess 27. No dust may escape from the casing because it is closed on all sides except the top andi the lid isv tightly fitted to the top of the casing. The coiled margin 18 of the lid tits snugly against the ridge 9 of the casing and coinpletely closes it. Moreover, because of the stiff rim of the lid or cover and the spherical shape of the top of the cover, the cover is strong enough. to transmit the force imparted by the operator through the handle to the entire casing without bending or flexing it. Although the main casing lis made of comparatively thin sheet material, the cylindrical form thereof, together with the stiflening ribs or ridges v7` and 9 and the coniparatively stiff cylindrical sieve fitted therein and the `cover tightly fitting over the top thereof produces a very strong but light receptacle `which may be readily shaken hack and forth in. any direct-ion in a substantially horizontal plane to` sift the ashes or other material placed therein. with great facility.

itl() Y In Figs. 6, 7, 8', 9 and A10, thepivotalcol umn, such as is shown at 24 in Fig. l, is dispensed Withiand a spring is employedto sup# .portthe main casing. and to furnish Vthe `resiliency tendingto restore the device to' a perpendicular position. The spring or sylphon d of the modification shown inl F igs.V

6 and Sinay afford aslight vertical vmove-` `Vment to the siiterbut in the main, it subv lio stantiallyvfforms -a pivotal bearing about Ywhich the main casing may be'oscillated in any direction substantially horizontally, In Figs. 7 and 9, the sitter casing is mounted andsu'pported by; a spiral spring instead `of ona'sylphon orhollov1 `spring closed'on all'sides and in these modifications the siiter casing may be f oscillated in any :direction j horizontally or at right Vangles tothe normal axis of the spring but it vmaygalso beV given an up-and-down shaking movement in addition thereto. Y

' v InFigs. l() and 'll the construction diiiers i'romfthatshown in Fig. 9 mainlyj in the.

substitution ofell'iptical springs for spiral springs' and in this forniA theufmain casing i may be movedfftransversely or i vertically.

erator standing opposite the device. VItV isV particularly adaptedy for use in connection .with a shallow ash pan. 'i lnFig. 8, however,

the ,long hollow post 2li may be substantially omitted because theV headoi the barrel will-bring the handle to the desired elevation.

,The base'28,` When made in the manner shown in iglll, need not be Vfastened `tothe floor. -The weight of the material in the sitter will he sufficient tohold the arms 29,

129' squarely lon the v:tloor and particularly when the arm 29 is long enoughto permit the koperator to stand upon it in shaking the main casing. VWhen, however, it is desii-able toY do'so, itl may be screwed or otherf Wise fastened to* the looinfv It may be mounted on a plate such as 30e provided with a ystake which may bey driven in the ground asshownin Fig. 7. i In Fig. 5- the'base is shown as a small lplate and the disk 30` may be provided with a vpost 4S which mayl be cemented in hole inV va cement `ounda- Elu those forms ot my reniovetlie sieve l0 to empty theasli-es which device. wherein'` theA ashcollects Vink the bottom of the'casingit Will'become necessary from time to time to may :collect in the casing l, and to do this, the sieve nl() will have to be removed. To facilitate the removal of the sieve, it may be provided with handles on the inside there-` Oi p, c A Y ln Figs. fand 4: the springs 35 are pret eiablylsubstantially circular in cross-sec- ;tion so thatthe resistance to motion inlv any substantial horizontal direction Willvbe substantially the same. Y l f lnsome instances, however, I may make the tensionof these springs, and oiti the springs shoWn'in F igs l, 1l and 5, of differenttensions or ditterentdegrees oitstitl Vness so that the sifter may' be shaken back and forth in one direction a little easier than it Aisin a direction at riglitangles thereto. This permits of the imparting toY the shaker oil' acomparatively slow back and forth mo-V tion/and a. quick or jerky lateral motion simultaneously therewithy which produces a very thorough agitation `and shaking of the contents of the sieve.

g Having thus described my invention, what d l claim and desiretoi protectby Letters Patentot thc :United States is: v

i i. ln a sitter, the combination with a universally resilient: support, ot a screening device rigidly secured to the tree4 end of said support Vwhereby said device. may be agitated substantially 'horizontally in all directions and saiddevice Will beireturned aifter agita? tionto its normaiposition, VdueV to the resiliency ot said support.

2. VIna sitter,the'coinbination ot a screening device and a support ymounted at its lower end 'lfor'universal movement andV normally resiliently maintained substantially perpendicular, said screening device being rigidly vsecurcdto and carried by theiippeiv end of said support andbeing tiltable with the top of said support in all directions. n Y 3; in a siiterhtlie combination Awith a screening device, of a support for said device universally pivot'ally mounted at its lower end and normally resiliently` maintained perpendicular,and means to rigidly secure said device to the upper end of said support," said support Vand `the parts Vcarried therebybeing manually tiltab-le in all directions around said pivot ot said support as la center.

A. In a sitter, the' combination of a Vscreen-` ing device, a rigidvbase and a i'esilent support, Wlieieon said screening device is rigidly mounted, connecting'said screening device fwlth said Abase, and normally holding said .screening device vertically over said base,

said screening devicek ,and thcftopv vendet said support being Vmanually ymovablevbaclr` and 'torth in all directions in approximately a'horizontal plane.' Y

5. nalsi-iter,tlie :combination of a screening device; and a support to WhichV said screening device is'secured, said' support be- CII ing mounted for universal pivotal movement about the lower end thereof as a center7 and means to normally resiliently maintain said support perpendicular, whereby said screening device and the top of said support may be manually oscillated and gyrated about the pivot oil said support.

6. In a sifter, the combination of a screening device, a post universally pivoted at its lower end.1 means for rigidly securing said si'freening device` to the upper end ot' said post, and resilient means norn'ially holding said post perpendicular, whereby said screening device may be oscillated and gyrated about said pivot against the tension of said resilient means.

7. In a sitter, the combination of a post, a stationary base on which the lower end of said post is universally joined, yielding means to normally hold said post substantiallv perpendicular7 and a screening device rigidly mounted on the upper end of said post, whereby said screening device and the upper end of said post are manually freely movable about the lower end of said post as a pivot in all directions substantially horizontally against the tension oi said yielding means.

8. 'In a sitter, the combination oi a screening device and a single support therefor, one end ol said support being rigidly secured te the bottom of said screening device and the other end et said support being pivotally mounted tor universal movement about the pivot of said post as a center, and means to normally yieldingly maintain said post in a position in which the screening device is substantially horizontal, the upper end of said support and the parts carried thereby being manually tiltable in all directions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this first day of August, 1924.

HERBERT S. WOODWARD. 

